It’s rare that Officers at the Zoo have to worry about animals trying to get in.

As Police Officer Dale Anderson and Sgt. Christopher Carter walked their patrol route at the National Zoo in the pre-dawn hours of July 9, everything seemed quiet and routine—until suddenly, it wasn’t. Trapped between the steel bars of the fence near the entrance to the Hay Barn and the Loading Dock was a tiny, terrified fawn.

There were no animal keepers on-site at 4:49 a.m., so it was up to Anderson and Carter to free the little critter. Sgt. Carter unlocked the gate so they could reach the tangled fawn, but he’s a city kid from Baltimore, so it was up to Officer Anderson, who has experience with farm animals, to figure out how to free the fawn. It was a little awkward because of the way the little deer had trapped itself, but Anderson was able to gently lift the fawn and free it.

“I’ve never before had to assist baby deer,” Sgt. Carter said. “I was relieved that we were able to give it aid.”

As soon as it was freed, the uninjured fawn immediately curled up in the grass and lay still, as little fawns are taught to do by their mothers.

The officers left the fawn for its doe to find. Mom may have a few words to say about adventurous youngsters who wander off into trouble.